SonicOS Firmware 7.1.3 or wait for 8.0?
Simon_Weel
Enthusiast ✭✭
The firmware 7.1 series are still a bumpy ride, according to the various posts. And there's a version 8.0 in the making, so I wonder. Wait for the 8.0 version, hoping it will do a better job? Or cross my fingers and install the latest 7.1 firmware?
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CORRECT ANSWER
Larry
All-Knowing Sage ✭✭✭✭
I asked my Account Manager what the meaning of the last security alert (issued January 29) was. Her take was simple: every 7.0.1 should be running the latest 7.1.3 firmware (unspoken was the need to suffer through any problems) or turn off SSL VPN altogether.
The 8.0 firmware is currently only available with the TZ80. The premise for that [let's put our foot in the water to see what the temperature is] device is an MSP is going to purchase it (for $99) and then invoice the client for the appropriate security services for as long a contract term as they can get (either annually or monthly). There is little to no indication existing Gen 7 devices will - or can - be "upgraded" to enable this firmware; nor is there any hint of other Gen 8 hardware devices on the horizon (but what do i know?).
Purportedly the primary difference between the Gen 7 and 8 firmware is the ability to detect when a subscription has expired to be able to stop those services from running, effectively bricking the appliance. And allowing for resumption of service when the annual or monthly subscription is renewed.
By mid-March, I'm going to venture an update on my office TZ270W from 7.0.1 (with gobs of backups) to 7.1.3 before attempting same with my client devices.
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CORRECT ANSWER
TKWITS
Community Legend ✭✭✭✭✭
Don't just cross your fingers, export a good config before updating to 7.1 and plan to import it immediately after.
Many of us waited for 7.0 only to be disappointed for over a year after initial release. I don't see 8.0 going any differently.
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We purchased a TZ80 just to get a look at an eigth-generation Sonicwall. The main difference appears to be the facility for automatic firmware updates. That's not something I find reassuring— constant updating is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Automatic updating makes it easier for the engineers to say, "don't worry about it— we can always fix it later." Given the trashed firewalls I've recently experienced after updating the firmware, all I can think is that I don't need 130 firewalls all trashed the same day or even the same week. Everything else about the 8.0.0 firmware looked pretty much the same, nothing like the difference between 6 and 7.
Automatic update is available from 7.1.2, also in 7.1.3.
There is a demo for TZ80 with Gen8 firmware on the livedemo.sonicwall.com website:
https://tz80.demo.sonicwall.com
username: demo
password: password
It only looks slightly truncated compared to 7.1.3.
TZ80 does not have some features like higher models.